CA1200531A - Passive dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to a dispenser for such materials as toilet cleaning compositions including such constituents as disinfectants, detergents, dyes, fragrances, and a plurality of same, either singly or in admixture thereof.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a "passive", e.g. no moving parts, dispenser that dispenses as a disinfectant material a halogen releasing agent of low solubility in water.
Most specifically, the present invention relates to a passive dispenser wherein the disinfectant is 1-bromo-3-chloro-5, 5-dimethyl hydantoin or 1,3-dibromo-5, 5-dimethyl hydantoin.

Description

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FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dispenser constituents for such materialsas toilet cleaning compositions including/such as disinfectants,detergents, dyes, fragrances, and a plurality of same, either singly or in admïxture thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a "passive", e.g. no moving parts, dispenser that dispenses as a disinfectant material a halogen releasing agent of low solubility in water. Most specifically, the present invention relates to a passive disp~nser wherein the disinfectant is l~bromo-3-chloro-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Many dispensers of the passive type are known.
The simplest of these dispensers comprise a basket to receive a solid cake or bar containing the active cleaning consti-tuents, said basket having a plurality of holes for the intake and outflow of liquid. See e.g., U.S. Patents 4,261,957 and 4,301,556 to Schimanski and U.S. Patent 4,277,353 to McDuffee. U.5. Patent 3,99~3,360 discloses a container for dispensing solution into the toilet tank from an invexted position and hanger means for suspending the container frQm the tank rim.

U.S. Patents 650,161 to Williams et al and 1,175,032 to Williams disclose dispensers provided with siphon means adapted to withdraw a given volume of solution from the dispenser.

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Castronovo, U.S. Patent 3,769,640 discloses a dispenser comprising an upper, top portion and a lower, bottom portion, said upper portion mounted on the lower portion as to close the lower chamber by means of a shoulder therebetween, said shoulder having a plurality of perfora-tions therein. The top of the upper portion is likewise closed, and has a plurality of perforations therein. In response to a change in tank liquid level, solution contained within the upper portion is dispensed through the shoulder perforations. During filling, tank water enters through the shoulder perforations, air beinq displaced from the container through the perforations in the top of the upper portion.
A disadvantage with this type of dispenser lies in the capa-bility of active materials to diffuse from the dispenser through the perforations into the tank water, thereby reducing the life of the dispenser.

Although the dispensers of Williams and Williams et al retard migration of the actives contained within the dispenser to the tank, unacceptably high rates of migration can occur with conventional disinfectants.

U.S. Patents 4,171,546, 4,186,856~ 4,208,747 to Dirksing; 4,251,012 to Owens et al; 4,281,421 to Ny~uist et al, and 4,216,027 to Wages provide passive dispensers with means to isolate the product chamber solution from the tank water.

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U.S. Patent 4,375,109 issued March 1; 1983 e~tltlea PASSIVE DISPFNSER HAVING
A DOU~LE AIR VENT SYS~EM and assigned to The Drackett ~c ,~ny discloses a dispenser wherein the diffusion of solution from th~ dispenser is retarded during ~uiesce~t periods.
Summary of the Invention The present invention therefore provides in one aspect a passive dispenser for dispensing a predetermined vol-ume of disinEectant solution into a body of liquid in response to a change in the level of the body of liquid from a Eirst higher level to a second lower level, said dispenser being immer-sible in the body of liquid, comprising at least one product chamber having a product chamber inlet and exit port, conduit means associated with at least one product chamber, said conduit being liquid filled subsequent to the attainment of said first liquid level, said conduit means being in fluid communication with said chamber through the inlet and e~it port, said chamber is provided with a halogen-releasing disinfectant composition having a water solubility of between about 0.0001 to about 1% by weight so that in the quiescent state a density gradient exists in the solution which forms in said product chamber with the greatest concentration being adjacent the bottom of said cham-ber, and a flow impeding means in said conduit means to inhibit the flow of halogen releasing solution from the product chamber whereby, during the quiescent period, the rate of migration of halogen-releasing solution from the product chamber is substantially limited, and whereby, in response to a change in the level of the body of liquid from the higher level to the lower level, a volume of halogen-releasing solution contained within the pro-duct chamber is caused to flow into the body of liquidO

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As shown below in the examples, the present invention incorporating a halogen releasing disinfectant material of low solubility within dispensers of the types disclosed by Jones and Williams is drama~ically more effective in retard-ing accumulation of available halogen in the toilet tank than the said dispensers containing conventional hypochlorite disinfectant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is the preferred embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a second e~'oodiment of the dispenser of the pxesent invention.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF I~VENTION

It has been found that a passive dispenser of the type adapted for immersion in a toilet tank and having a hydrostatic head of liquid in the product chamber discharge means, which head of liquid extends above the outlet port from said product chamber, in combination with a halogen releasing agent of low solubility is effective in preventing substantially the migration of said halogen releasing agent into the tank water during quiescent periods (i.e., between flushes). Suitable halogen releasing compounds of low solubility have been disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,412,021 to Patterson, and include water-stable agglomerates of N-halogenated organic compounds having a solubility in water of from 0.0001 to 1.0% by weight at 20C. The preferred halogen releasing agents~are l-bromo-3-chloro-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin and l,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin, manufactured in agglo-merate form by Hydrotech Chemical Corp., a subsidiary of Great Lakes Chemical Corp., ~est Lafayette, Indiana.

Figures 1 and 2 are illustrative of two embodiments of passive dispensers which provide the hydrostatic head barrier required to substantially retard migration or diffusion of the halogen releasing agent during quiescent periods.
In the drawings, like elements of Figures 1 and 2 are distin~
guished by prime superscripts, unless clarity of discussion requires alternate enumer~tion.

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Referring to Figure 1 the dispenser 10 comprises a product chamber 12, a refill/discharge pathway 1~, and vent means 16, said vent means e~tending from top 21 of the product chamber. The product chamber 12 comprises a lower portion 22 and an upper portion 24. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the upper portion is smaller than the lower portion thereby forming a shoulder 20. The refill discharge pathway 14 comprises a vertical section 28 having an inlet/
exit port 29 at the bottomthereof and a gooseneck or inverted U section 31 connected at one end to said vertical section and at the other end to the shoulder 20. The gooseneck 31 is in fluid communication with the product chamber 12 through product chamber inlet/outlet port 32.

~ ithin chamber 12, specifically along the bottom wall of portion 22, is provided a solid cake or bar 34 containing the halogen releasing agent of low solubility, as described above.

In quiescent state (i.e., between flushes~, the toilet tank (not shown) is filled to its high liquid level, the solution in the dispenser 10 filling the product chamber 12 and a portion of the vent 16, which vent extends above the tank liquid level to the atmosphere. Within the chamber 12 it is believed that with the preferred halogen releasing agents,l-bromo-3-chloro-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin (hereinafter ~CDMII), and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin, both in agglomerate form, that a density ',`f}~:~53~

gradient exists in view of the low solubility of BCDMH
(0.15g./lOOg. water at 77 F.). Hence, the concentration of disinfectant is grea-test near the bottom of the chamber 12.
Because of the formation of the density gradient, there ls a reduced tendency for solution to diffuse into the gooseneck 31 through inlet/exit port 32.

It has also been found that during this quiescent state that a height H of about 1/~6 inch solution is effective to prevent substantially the migration of halogen releasing agent solution through gooseneck 31 into vertical section 28. Preferably, the hydrostatic head H provided by gooseneck 31 is between about 'j to about 1 inch of solution.

When flushed, the tank liquid level drops rapidly.
When the tank liquid level is below the level of solution in the product chamber 12 (and allowing for frictional losses within the dispenser), solution starts to flow by gravity from the dispenser through inlet/outlet port 32 and out of the pathway 14. As the head differential between tank liquid level and solution liquid level increases, the outflow from the dispenser also increases. Solution continues to flow through the pathway 14 until product chamber solution level is proximate to shoulder20. The volume corresponding to height H is withdrawn as a result of a siphon existing within the d1spenser.

~l ~r'1~3~1l At the end of the flush cycle, a reserve of solution remains within the product chamber 12, the amount being the volume below port 32 less the volume of the ca~e 34. Upon increase in tank level durin~ filling, tank water enters the dispenser through pathway 14 and dilutes the reserve solution therein. Although diluted, the solution in the chamber 12 is sufficiently concentrated to provide disinfecting upon a second immediate ~lush. Over time, the quiescent solution will reach an equilibrium concentration.

Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention designated as dispenser 10'. The dispenser 10' comprises a product chamber 12', a re~ill/discharge pathway 14', and vent means 16' extending from the top of chamber 12' to the atmosphere. The pathway 14' comprises a vertical section 28' and an inclined conduit 40, one end of said conduit being connected to said vertical section 28', and the other end being connected to the product chamber 12' in sidewall 42. The inclined conduit is in fluid communica~
tion with the product chamber ~y means of product chamber inlet/exit port 32', which port 32' is at a lower elevation than the intersection of vertical section 28' and conduit 40.
The dispenser 10' further comprises pathway vent conduit 43, which extends from the top of vertical section 28' to the atmosphere. This dispenser is the subject of the above identified Jones U.S. Patent 4,375,109.

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The flush/refill cycle of the tank is similar to that described above for dispenser 10, except that the volume of solution dispensed is equal to the volume of the product chamber 12' above the intersection of conduit 40 and vertical section 28'. Again, the height H is sufficient to provide a significant hydrostatic head toward the product chamber when full to prevent substantially the migration or diffusion of solution into vertical section 28'. As with dispenser 10, the height H is greater than ~bout 1/16 inch of solution, preferably ~ to 1 inch of solution. In dispenser 10' the discharge of solution from product chamber 12' is accomplished by gravity, the pathway 14'being vertical to the atmosphere.

Example 1 Two dispensers of the type shown in Figure 2 were tested comparatively, one dispenser being charged with 50 g.
of calcium hypochlorite in cake form, the second dispenser beingcharged with l-bromo-3-chloro-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin in agglomerate form. The dispensers were immersed in respective tanks, and the concentration of available halogen within the tanks was monitored. Both dispensers had a hydrostatic head H of about ~ inch. The following data was obtained:

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PPM Available Halogen Tank 1 Tank 2 Quiescent Period (Days) (50g. Ca(OCl)2) (50g, BC3MH)

3 100 0 6 150 0.3 8 425 0.5 13 625 1.1 1000 1. ~
17 1180 1.5 From the data, it is seen that the level of halogen accumulation in the tank containing the BCDMH
dispenser is dramatically lower than the accumulation in the tank provided with an identical dispenser containing calcium hypochlorite.

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Example 2 One hundred grams of BCDMH in agglomerate form were added to a dispenser of the type represented by Figure 1. The dispenser was installed in a tank and the accumulation of halogen in the tank monitored as shown below:

PPM Available Halogen Tank 3 Quiescent Period (Days) (lOOg. BCDMH) 1 0.6 2 0.8 3 0.7 6 1.0 These levels oE halogen accumulation are consistent with those recorded in Example 1 for tank 2. The above dispenser had a hydrostatic head H of about 1 inch.

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It is to be understood that the above specifica-tion is illustrative of the invention, and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention defined by the claims which follow. In particular, the dispenser of the present invention can exist with a plurality of product chambers and respective refill/discharge pathways, each product chamber separate from one another, to dispense one or more different active ingredient solutions into the toilet bowl. Thus, for example, a first chamber may be provided to dispense the halogen releasing agent of this invention, while a second chamber may be provided to dispense a detergent and dye solution.

It is further to be understood that those product chambers dispensing detergent or other non-disinfectant solution are not limited by the restraints of the present invention with respect to chamber and pathway configuration.
For example, a product chamber of the type disclosed by Castronovo may be provided to dispense detergent solution without otherwise affecting the utility of the present invention.

Finally, applicant has shown herein embodiments of the dispenser having a single pathway to fill and dispense.
It ls within the scope of the invention, however, for there to be separate inlet and outlet pathways, provided that the hydrostatic head exists for both.

Claims (8)

1. A passive dispenser for dispensing a predetermined volume of disinfectant solution into a body of liquid in response to a change in the level of the body of liquid from a first higher level to a second lower level, said dispenser being immersible in the body of liquid, comprising at least one product chamber having a product chamber inlet and exit port, conduit means associated with at least one product chamber, said conduit being liquid filled subsequent to the attainment of said first liquid level, said conduit means being in fluid communication with said chamber through the inlet and exit port, said chamber is provided with a halogen-releasing disinfectant composition having a water solubility of between about 0.0001 to about 1% by weight so that in the quiescent state a density gradient exists in the solution which forms in said product chamber with the greatest concentration being adjacent the bottom of said chamber, and a flow impeding means in said conduit means to inhibit the flow of halogen releasing solution from the product chamber whereby, during the quiescent period, the rate of migration of halogen-releasing solution from the product chamber is substantially limited, and whereby, in response to a change in the level of the body of liquid from the higher level to the lower level, a volume of halogen-releasing solution contained within the product chamber is caused to flow into the body of liquid.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the conduit means comprises a vertical section exterior the chamber, said vertical section having a port open to the body of liquid proximate the bottom thereof, and wherein the flow impeding means is an inverted U-section connecting the top of the exterior vertical section with the chamber at the inlet/exit port.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the conduit means comprises a vertical section exterior the chamber, said vertical section having a port open to the body of liquid proximate the bottom thereof, an inclined section extending from proximate the top of said vertical portion to the inlet/
exit port of the chamber, and a vent conduit extending from the top of the vertical section, said inclined section being the flow impeding means.

4. The dispenser of claims 1, 2 or 3 including a vent conduit extending above the top of the chamber.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the halogen releasing material is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1-bromo-3-chloro-5, 5-dimethylhydantoin, and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said flow impeding means defines a hydrostatic liquid head of not less than about 1/16 inch.

7. The dispenser of claim 1,2 or 3 wherein said flow impeding means defines a hydrostatic liquid head of between 1 and 1 inch.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 or 2 wherein the product chamber has a top section and a larger bottom section, a shoulder being formed therebetween, the product chamber inlet and exit port being in said shoulder.